-40 mesh with 99.999% purity; white powder(s); hygroscopic; stable in hot and cold H2O [STR93] [MER06] [CER91]. very sparingly
soluble in water (in contrast to InF3 ? 3 H2O) although readily soluble
in dilute acids. Reduced to almost pure InF3 by a very slow stream
of hydrogen at 300°C; a fast stream of the latter reduces it to the
metal. M.p. 1170°C, b.p. >1200°C; d 4.39. Solubility in water at room
temperature: 0.040 g/100 ml.
Indium(III) fluoride is employed in the synthesis of non-oxide glasses. It promotes chemoselective addition of TMSCN to aldehydes forming the respective cyanohydrins.
Employed in the synthesis of non-oxide glasses. Promotes chemoselective addition of TMSCN to aldehydes forming the respective cyanohydrins.
1. Thermal decomposition of (NH4)3InFs
in a stream of fluorine gas. A small sintered corundum vessel containing (NH4)3InFs
is placed
in a nickel tube and heated in a fluorine stream to constant weight.
(NH4)3(InFe) = InF3 + 3 NH4F
2. A small sintered alumina vessel containing In2O3 is fluorinated
in a quartz tube (in an apparatus similar to that used for the preparation of TIF3). After gentle initial heating, the reaction proceeds
(occasionally with incandescence) without additional supply of heat.
The progress of the conversion may be checked since the yellow
oxide becomes colorless and an increase in volume takes place
simultaneously. To obtain a completely oxide-free preparation the
product must be kept for several hours at 500°C in a nickel tube,
while a stream of fluorine is passed over it.
2In2O3 + 6F2 = 4InF3 + 3O2
